3.5 Stars

After a traumatic case, former NYPD Detective Shana Merchant is now a detective in upstate New York. She and her colleague Tim Wellington are called to the scene of a missing person. Jasper Sinclair was spending the weekend with several family members on their private island and disappeared from the bedroom he was sharing with his girlfriend. Tim thinks Jasper left on his own, but Shana is convinced the wealthy young man was murdered. When a brutal rain storm prevents backup from arriving to help Shana and Tim, it’s up to the two of them to investigate on their own. In spite of their different opinions on the case, Shana and Tim are working well together until events from Shana’s past threaten the partnership and may place Shana in danger.

I had high hopes for this book which sounded like an updated Agatha Christie mystery. It starts out that way especially when Shana and Tim become stranded on the island with all of the suspects. The author does a good job of describing the isolation of being on an island in a storm, cut off from everyone else. Unfortunately, almost all of the members of the Sinclair family and their spouses and significant others are very unlikable. Nobody is trustworthy, including Shana, her fiance, and Tim. This makes the solution of the mystery hard to guess, but since I couldn’t connect with the characters, I wasn’t as invested in the story as I would have been if there were more people to root for. I don’t want to spoil the story, but there is one character who stands out as a truly good person by the end of the book and that was nice to see. Others may have been innocent of murder, but were still hard to take.

The book is hard to categorize. In spite of the Christie-like set-up, this is not a cozy mystery. It’s more of a procedural with some elements of suspense. There are clues to what really occurred, but the story gets too complicated to be able to figure out the solution. In addition to what is going on at the Sinclair compound, Shana is dealing with the traumatic incident in her past. Parts of this come to light throughout the story as Shana remembers things that happened to her. By the end of the book, the reader has a better idea of what happened to Shana but there are a lot of unanswered questions which I assume will be addressed in future books. There are some interesting tense moments in the book, but I feel there was a lot of unrealized potential with the book.

~ Christine

Loved this one! A perfect atmospheric, Agatha style book. Clue meets Mr Poirot on an island with a storm brewing behind the windows.

The two small town police officers are called in to a private island, where one of a rich family members has disapeared leaving only a pool of blood. There's a lot of family issues brewing, secrets that need to be unveiled, with lots of interesting characters. Even the main character Shana isn't your typical cop with great deductive skills. Being swayed by people around her, as well as her past seems to be hindering her way in solving this disappearance.

Loved the pace, and every twist and turn of the plot. The dysfunctional family with very selfish, unlikable and untrustworthy members added to the tangled web that this story was. I appreciated the style that was so reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Clue. I kept waiting for that big reveal at the end, and it all made sense.

Can't wait for more of Shana, with that last tidbit in the end I need to know what she did.

Loved this Christie-esque locked room (it's an island, but for all intents and purposes, it's a locked room) mystery. I really liked Shana and Tim and can't wait to read more books featuring the team in the future.
There are a couple of clunky parts such as all of the accusations of people "It was YOU!" only to have them disproved over and over got a little old. Also I thought Shana's fiance was a bit over the top and didn't like that story thread at all.
Overall the mystery is clever and well plotted, and I am super intrigued to find out more about Shana's past kidnapping and find out WHY it happened! What secrets is she hiding? Will definitely read more books in this series.

Death in the Family is a thoroughly enjoyable mystery. I found myself thinking of Agatha Christie while reading this. I truly enjoyed the flawed main character Shana Merchant and look forward to future books and learning more about her.

**I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

It’s hard to believe this intense thriller is the author’s debut novel! I am very impressed with this locked-room type of mystery. The setting is creepy, the mystery and suspects are chilling, and the lead investigator has a past that is revealed bit by bit, flashback by flashback. The characters are described well, and there are just the right amount of details. It wasn’t long before I was hooked and had a hard time putting the novel down. Death in the Family gives Tessa Wegert a solid foothold in this genre.

Shana is a senior investigator in New York’s Thousand Islands after leaving behind her career as a homicide detective in New York City. She is technically Tim’s superior, even though he has been an investigator in Alexandria Bay for several years. While Sheriff Maureen McIntyre knows of her past, Tim does not. When working on a series of murders in New York, Shana had been kidnapped and held hostage by the killer for over a week, the only one of his victims that he didn’t kill.

Shana and her fiancé, Carson, originally from Alexandria Bay, move there so she can be in a quiet place to recover from her ordeal and he will open a new practice there. Against his wishes, she joined the local police force; A-Bay is known for being free from major crimes.

Until Saturday. A nor’easter came in on Friday. The phone call came from Tern Island, reporting the murder of Jasper Sinclair, one of the grandsons of Camilla Sinclair, owner of the island. Even though they did not find a body, his side of the bed shared with his fiancée was covered in blood. Tim and Shana went to the mansion on the three-acre island in the police boat.

Throughout the day, the storm worsens, keeping other investigators from joining them. This is the first homicide Shana has been on since being abducted and held by her tormenter. Carson, who had been her psychiatrist, is worried and wants her off the island and home. Having grown up in the area, he also warned her about Tim. Tim, the investigator who thinks they are merely dealing with a missing person case. As family members’ emotions escalate from hostile to volatile, Shana has flashbacks to her abduction, which could jeopardize her and everyone there. Then Shana and Tim discover that the police boat and the Sinclair skiff are gone, and another guest dies – this time with the body in evidence.

Shana and Tim meet a fascinating houseful of folks. First is the caretaker, Philip Norton. He makes frequent mention of the trapper who was there the day before trying to get rid of mink in the boathouse. Abby, Jasper’s girlfriend, is on the island for the first time to meet his family. She is from Canada, in NYC on a work visa.

Flynn is the oldest sibling, a muscular man who drinks too much. He is head of finance at Sinclair Fabrics, started by their grandfather many years earlier. Flynn’s younger boyfriend is present, also. Ned met Flynn when Jasper hired him to be the “face” of Sinclair Fabrics. Bebe is the middle sibling and CEO. Her distaste for having Shana and Tim there, and Abby, is clear. Her husband Miles, an attorney, is there with Jade, his teenage daughter from his first marriage. Camilla Sanders, who owns the island, is there, content that her family has joined her before the mansion is closed for the winter.

Jasper recently came to Sinclair Fabrics as director of marketing and PR to try to save the floundering company. In this family of secrets, who could have killed him? Abby, Jasper, and Ned were close friends outside work. Abby disclosed to Shana that the evening before, she saw Ned and Bebe together in the shed, shocked that he would go out on the volatile Flynn, especially with his sister. I am glad to see this is first in a series, as I want to find out more about Shana’s background, the only thing left shadowed at the end of the novel. She is an observant woman who doubts her abilities, especially since her fiancée still believes she isn’t ready to be at work and this kind of case could set her back to the beginning. I couldn’t imagine being in a huge home on a rugged island in a violent storm, unable to leave or get help to come in, with at least one killer. There is motive for at least a couple people on the island to want to kill Jasper, are there others that haven’t yet been raised? Tempers escalate to an explosive denouement in which Shana has to draw on everything she has to try to prevent another death, including her own. I highly recommend this incredible thriller by an amazing new novelist!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Shana Merchant was abducted by a serial killer while working on a murder case in New York City. After her escape, she decides to continue her work as a detective but relocates with her fiance to upstate New York. She is hoping the crime work there proves to be less stressful and further her recovery from the trauma.

Shana and her partner, Tim, receive a call from the wealthy Sinclair family about the disappearance of Jasper Sinclair. Because of an impending storm, they rush to the family estate to question the family and staff. Upon arrival, they find a considerable amount of blood in Jasper’s bed. Shana now believes this to be a murder and must figure out who is responsible.

Death In The Family is a debut novel by Tessa Weigert. It is filled with interesting characters, suspense, mystery, and family dysfunction. I loved how the author weaved the protagonist's prior experiences into the current mystery. I am excited that another book in the series is slated for next year.

It has been a few days since I finished reading Tessa Wegert's "A Death in the Family" and I am still on the fence about if I liked it or not. The plot and the mystery itself were not bad, but I didn't really find anything in it that sets it apart from other police procedural/mystery-type books either.

Ah... the whodunit in an isolated place ala Clue style (kudos to the Clue nod within). This was a fun read. Quick paced, everyone is a suspect. A family where everyone is screwed up in some way... god they were some interesting characters! And let's not forget our main character - Shana Merchant. Dannnggggg. I loved getting a little bit of her background without it getting too detailed and convoluted. Tim as her partner was a good one to have as I think they cliqued well together.

Ok, so here's the thing. I could've done without the whole Carlton part. That's just me. Meh. Bye. And the process of elimination by basically calling everyone out got to be a bit tedious. When you end up going "well it was obvious...." … um, was it? Was it really? So while I devoured the majority of the read, towards the end I just wanted to know who it was already!

Will I continue this series. Yeah, I think I definitely will. I'm curious where we will go now. Will we learn a bit more about what exactly happened to Shana in the past? Will another crazy family need their help or underestimate them? I'm definitely curious and I like that Shana has a bit of a wtf streak happening.

See ya for #2.

Death in the Family is the first book in the Shana Merchant novel. In this first installment, we meet Det. Merchant, and we learn she has recently escaped captivity after being abducted by a serial killer. As the book progresses, we learn about her time in captivity and subsequent escape, as well as how she is coping, but we also are given a mystery to unravel. This is a series that absolutely should be read in order, as the ending is a cliffhanger. It appears that the central premise will involve a new mystery for every book, but the overall arch regarding the main cast of characters will continue with each book, and that is the part that will need to be read in order.

Overall, this was an interesting, slow-burn, very atmospheric story. I was able to guess the killer/killers identity/identities very early on, which might bother some people. But due to the strong writing and vivid details, I still found myself immersed in the story. I do recommend this one.

Tents, atmospheric, claustrophobic. This was a cleverly crafted locked room who done it. This is the first book in Tessa Wegert’s new crime thriller series and I have to say the series is off to a great start! Detective Shana Merchant has relocated to upstate New York after being kidnapped by a serial killer. She is still dealing with her demons and is grateful for her sleepy small-town surroundings. Then one stormy day she and her partner Tim receive a call out to a private island, someone has been murdered. When they get there they find a bloody bed, no body, and a house full of suspects.

I loved the classic old-fashioned Agatha Christie vibe of the story. A highly dysfunctional family filled with suspects, gloomy stormy weather and an island with no way off. Shana was a strong smart savvy character and I am looking forward to getting to know her better in future books. Her partner Tim seems like a good guy and I’m curious to see how the relationship develops between these two (professional or otherwise). As for this family... what a hot mess! I was seriously suspicious of each of them throughout the course of the book. There is no love lost between these family members, all appeared guilty and none were terribly likable. I picked up this book with the intention of only reading a couple chapters and three hours later I finished it. It was a riveting story with an ending that I did not puzzle together, but it made sense. Very much looking forward to the next book in the series as we are left with a little bit of a.... what?

This book in emojis. 🌧 🚤 🏚 🩸 🔍

*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Will people stop comparing this one to And Then There Were None?! The only similarity I could see is that it takes place on an isolated island.

I found this one to be sloooow. I almost DNFed a couple times.

At first there were so many characters that I lost track, then when I got a handle on them it was I found that I didn't care what happened to them.

Then there is the detective herself. At first I was intrigued by Shana's story! As it went along I kept thinking 'oh just tell me WTF happened!' then I kept thinking 'DUDE, YOU'RE BEING MANIPULATED!'

I had recently watched 'Knives Out' (totally awesome btw...) and that messed up family was the messed up family in this book.

The book is the first in what's going to be a series and by the ambiguous and cliff-hanger of the ending you can tell where it's gonna go.

There was a twist at the end that had me go 'WOAH' and so I added a half star to my rating.

Overall a #fillerthriller for me...

Clue. Knives Out and The Family Stone combined.

An escape to a private island is the ideal vacation for most. For the Sinclair family it has turned into their worst nightmare. In the Thousand Islands of Upstate New York, the Sinclair family has gathered together to meet Jasper Sinclair’s new girlfriend. The family is based out of New York City where they are legendary for their fabric house in New York City’s world famous garment district. When the family wakes up one morning, Jasper has disappeared. His bed soaked in blood while his girlfriend slept beside him. BCI (Bureau Of Criminal Investigation) Investigators Shana Merchant and Tim Wellington are assigned to investigate Jasper’s disappearance.

Shana and Tim arrive on the island just as a Nor’Easter is bearing down on the Thousand
Islands. Within the Sinclair family home, Shana and Tim discover a group of people shrouded in anger, resentment, and jealousy. As the storms rages outside, a storm is also raging inside within the Sinclair family. Due to the storm Shana and Tim are on their own, out numbered, and trapped in a mansion with a killer in their midst.

The Sinclair family is dysfunctional to say the least. Each member has a reason to harm Jasper as well as each other. There are betrayals and jealousies which run deep and are years old. As a child Jasper was envied by his older siblings. I don’t think it is too much of a spoiler to divulge the financial situation of the Sinclair family. A once prominent fabric house for the world’s most famous fashion designers, Sinclair Fabric’s is now hanging on by a thread. When you add the high levels of resentment and financial desperation to a volatile family dynamic, someone is bound to get hurt. The family dynamic is what makes Death In The Family a stand out amongst other “locked door” mysteries. Rather than strangers piled together in a remote location, in Death In The Family we have a family with a complicated relationship forced together with loads of aggravating factors.

In addition to dealing with a maladjusted family, a deadly approaching storm, and a murder investigation; Shana Merchant is dealing with a debilitating case of PTSD. After surviving a kidnapping and almost being killed Shana is struggling to function. Jasper SInclair’s disappearance is her first major investigation since her near death experience. During the investigation Shana has difficulty determining real threats versus perceived threats. Her experience has left her doubting her abilities. Shana sees this case as a chance to prove herself, hoping to regain her confidence and be the police officer she once was. Shana is not the first damaged detective I have read, however Shana is different. With other troubled detectives most of their suffering was self inflicted ; Shana’s suffering is not. I don’t think we yet know all of the details surrounding Shana’s kidnapping but from what we learn in Death In The Family, she was not selected at random by her perpetrator, Shana did not place herself in a dangerous situation (Although Shana believes otherwise). She was not taking a risk by confronting a dangerous suspect alone or following a lead without back up. Unlike other damaged detectives, I felt sympathetic towards Shana.

The resurgence of the “locked door mystery” is in full swing and I am loving it. Authors are taking the sub genre and making it their own by adding a modern twist while staying true to what crime fiction readers love about “locked door” mysteries - an isolated location and a race against a ticking clock to prevent another death. Wegert gives this to readers and much more.

Murder and Moore Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars

The setting for a Death in the Family is privately-owned Tern Island, one of the Thousand Islands. The Sinclair family owns it lock, stock, and baronial-splendor barrel. Senior Investigator Shana Merchant and her colleague, Investigator Tim Wellington get a call at the station: Jasper Sinclair, the youngest Sinclair sibling, is missing. Tim fills Shana in on their way to the policeboat.

“The Sinclairs are a New York family. In the fashion industry, I think,” he said. “They’re kind of a big deal. And this morning Jasper’s girlfriend woke up to an empty bed and the sheets soaked with blood.”



“But no body,” I said. “Huh, that’s … different.”



“Yeah.”

This is not what Shana anticipated when she left New York City police work behind for a job in the village of Alexandria Bay, New York.

Thirteen months ago, former NYPD detective Shana Merchant barely survived being abducted by a serial killer. Now hoping to leave grisly murder cases behind, she’s taken a job in her fiancé’s sleepy hometown in the Thousand Islands region of Upstate New York.

Blake Bram, the serial killer who almost killed Shana, is still at large. PTSD-fueled memories of him and the ordeal she suffered at his hands are never far from Shana’s consciousness. That said, she has a job to do.

Shana and Tim’s boat ride to Tern Island is harrowing, Shana is almost swept overboard by a vicious wave. Given the ferocity of the storm, will the state troopers will be able to join them? They’re met at the dock by Philip Norton, the family caretaker/factotum. Norton says after Abella (Jasper’s putative fiancé) sounded the alarm, the assembled family and friends searched frantically for Jasper, to no avail.

Shana’s most pressing need is to have time alone in Jasper’s blood-soaked bedroom. Alone, without back-up from EMT and CSI technicians.

The minute I set foot in Jasper’s bedroom I was no longer a plainclothes detective with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, but captain, crime-scene manager, and evidence tech. Until we got some help, it was all on us to secure the scene and interview everyone in the house. All I had to work with was Tim, and a bed that made clear why the Sinclairs called this murder.

She needs to observe and take notes, a task best done solo. Jasper’s grandmother Camilla makes it difficult—she doesn’t want to leave her favorite grandson’s bedroom—but former New Yorker Shana knows what buttons to push. She tells the elderly woman it’s imperative they “do things by the book.” Particularly if Jasper is hurt, rather than dead. Perhaps Shana exaggerates slightly.

“There’ll be attorneys involved here, down the line. If Jasper was attacked, whoever did it will be represented by someone determined to identify every mistake we make and use them against us to dismiss our findings. To dismiss the charge.”



Bulldog attorneys and gainful justice. I suspected this was language Mrs. Sinclair could understand, and immediately saw I was right.

Dealing with assorted Sinclairs, in-laws, and friends isn’t easy. They’re horrified when she tells them they’ll have to stay put in the living room and furthermore, turn in their electronic devices: “the elegant parlor was likened to a jail cell.” Their reaction evokes F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Rich Boy (1926): “Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me.” Shana “didn’t say one damn word, and eventually, the clamor died down.” She reminds them that there’s no “evidence of an intruder,” so they need to wise up because one of them could be next.

“Your comfort and convenience is not my priority. My priority is to keep the rest of you safe.”



The wind blew harder and the house gave a shudder. Against the windows the rain mimicked the sound of a million pebbles falling from a great height. A log split open with a crack like a gunshot, and this time I felt everyone tense.

Tessa Wegert has a dab hand with descriptions—they’re detailed and rich, dissolving the distance between readers and the crime scene.

The storm increases in intensity. The state troopers are busy rescuing boaters. Shana does have an off-site ally, Maureen McIntyre, the “first-ever female sheriff in the history of New York State… the woman was a legend.” McIntyre aka ‘Mac’ phones Shana asking how she can help. Other than Shana’s over-protective fiancé, only Mac knows Shana’s history with a serial killer. Shana’s afraid that Mac thinks she can’t cut it—she quickly tells her mentor that she has things under control and yes, there is something Mac can do.

“Speaking of help,” I said, anxious to change the subject, “have you got a few minutes to do some recon work on our witnesses?”



McIntyre missed her detective days, and I knew she’d love to pitch in. With a smile in her voice she said, “What do you need to know?”

Shana marshals her resources effectively. One asset is her power of perception and observation: she doesn’t miss a thing, be it an out-of-place object or a slight hesitation in a witness’s answer. She has a sardonic take on reality, like when she wryly agrees with Mac that it would be good if she could wrap up the mystery quickly.

“Thank you,” I said, “for acknowledging this is a serious case and not a goddamn game of Clue. Don’t worry, Mac, I’m all over it.”

Death in the Family is Tessa Wegert’s first Shana Merchant mystery. Given how close Canada is to Alexandria Bay, perhaps there’s a cross-border plot ahead, particularly since first-time novelist Wegert is a Canadian ex-pat. I look forward to future books exploring Shana’s troubled personal history, her burgeoning self-confidence in her new job, and her tentative professional partnership with Tim Wellington.

This book was so in my wheelhouse that my opinion here should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. There are some core problems here (pacing is a bit off, the writing tone can be uneven, and there is one plot point that just plain doesn't make any sense), but I basically don't care about any of them, because this is just what I want from a contemporary isolated closed circle mystery-- can't escape big creepy house because of the weather. Body count rises. Convoluted relationships that come more into focus as the mystery unfurls. On a plot level, this just completely delivered for me, so that made up for any deficiencies in characterization or writing. Definitely recommend as a bingeable mystery!

Shana Merchant fascinates me. After reading this first book in the series, I am definitely down with reading more. The stakes are high. Two small-town law enforcement professionals take a boat to an island and are stranded there with the body count rising. On top of that, out heroine has a skeleton in her closet. How does her past abduction impact her competence in the present and her ability to move forward to the future. There are so many unknowns and her predicament becomes worse as the hours tick by. She finds herself not only doubting the people on the island, but also her partner in the investigation. Lots of twists and turns happening here and many secrets to uncover. And Blake Bram is still out there . . . I loved it! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lisa Gardner, and Ruth Ware.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm sorry but this book was a mess. I'm not sure if I was reading a draft or the final product or what but I couldn't get past the endlessly confusing metaphors, the strange, stilted narration and a convoluted story that ultimately left the least paid attention to character as the only option for whodunnit which just feels lazy to me.

This truly had potential and I'm very bummed out to have to review it like this.

DEATH IN THE FAMILY is a Christie-inspired mystery set on a remote private island in Upstate New York. Two local detectives are called to investigate a missing persons case at the home of a wealthy family. They arrive to find a bed covered in bloody sheets and eight potential suspects — some more cooperative than others. As a terrible storm begins to rage, the detectives find themselves trapped on this small island, possibly with a killer on the loose.

The mystery was intriguing and solid, and I was kept wondering who among the eight may have played a part in the disappearance and why. I loved the stormy setting and the unsettling feeling that the characters were cut-off from the rest of the world. I liked that the lead investigator was a strong yet flawed female character, however the numerous references and flashbacks to her troubled past interrupted the story's flow (though it seems to be setting up a series arc). Overall, this was an enjoyable, slow-burn, classic mystery.

Loved loved loved this one! 5 stars no problem. I loved the setting of this book. I was suspicious of every single character and raced to the end to find out who was the culprit. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review. This in no way influenced my opinion.
This book satisfied the mystery lover that was revived while watching Knives Out - it also has a bit of Agatha Christie DNA for the modern day (in a way that Sophie Hannah could never).
This is a "locked room" mystery set on a family's island as they meet up for a weekend together. Our two detectives brave a storm to reach the island, but are otherwise largely cut off with the mainland.
I don't want to get into the story too much, because that spoils the mystery obviously.
The only negative I had was Shana's fiance, because his arc was so transparent.
Looking forward to book two in the series!

A proven plot with the perfectly imperfect characters and that special dark twist makes DEATH IN THE FAMILY by Tessa Wegert feel like Holmes and Watson should be showing up any moment. A man has gone missing on a private island owned by a wealthy family with far too many skeletons in their closets already. Enter the raging storm that leaves two detectives trapped amidst a bed-soaked bed, a family whose greatest attribute is their money, their greed, their ability to lie and their animosity toward one another. Did I mention that one of the detectives seems rather off herself, not actually fit for duty?

I found myself caught up in the grisly mystery and feeling like I disliked every single character, save one. So, where is the missing man? Why is there so much blood? Is there a murderer in their midst? Was money the motive or has there been a terrible mistake, the possible victim just on a walkabout to find a little peace? And, good grief, who said the detective was fit for duty anywhere?

Lots of nasty characters, even more dark secrets and quite possibly proof that money is the root of all evil. A semi-solid, not quite original mystery with a couple of surprises along the way.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Berkley. This is my honest and voluntary review.